as in hobby
an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure
photography is merely an avocation for me—I've never tried to make money off of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of avocation
What began as an avocation turned into a serious occupation, as Fox Solomon turned to documenting the remnants of segregation visible in Chattanooga and across the South.
—
Christina Cacouris, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2024
Dramatically groaning and moaning about the heat in the summer is my avocation.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2024
Wine, however, was an avocation that eventually became part of his portfolio.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024
And the Romans had other, less-objectionable avocations.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for avocation
Christina Cacouris, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2024
Dramatically groaning and moaning about the heat in the summer is my avocation.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2024
Wine, however, was an avocation that eventually became part of his portfolio.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024
And the Romans had other, less-objectionable avocations.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for avocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avocation
Noun
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Many collectors, including Patten, ramped up their hobby during the pandemic when concert money was redirected toward home listening.—
Chase Jordan
Updated May 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
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While Buddy passed a few years ago, Landowski slowly began to put in the work to turn the playtime hobby into a sport.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 May 2026
Noun
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My pursuit would be to advocate and fight to strengthen emissions standards, expand clean‑energy investment, seek to fund climate‑resilient infrastructure, protect natural resources and integrate a holistic approach to climate change mitigation and adoption at our local level.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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The suspect fled, and after a brief foot pursuit, officers arrested him.—
Sydney Barragan,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Our daughters no longer feel safe in their sports or private spaces.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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Like the sitcom, the soap, and the live-sports broadcast, the natural-history documentary is a perfect fit for the small screen.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Noun
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At some of the ranches, Ted Turner Reserves and Turner Enterprises have woven revenue-generating programs like bison ranching, recreation and tourism with ecology.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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Outdoor recreation isn't just a hobby in Minnesota.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avocation. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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